Archives of General Psychiatry
October 1, 2001
Liesbeth Reneman, Jules Lavalaye, Ben Schmand et al.
192 citations
MDMA may cause lasting memory problems even after its toxic effects on serotonin neurons in the brain's cortex reverse. The study suggests that damage to memory function from MDMA use can persist over the long term, while the neurotoxic effects on serotonin-producing neurons might be reversible.
Journal of Psychopharmacology
March 1, 2006
Liesbeth Reneman, Maartje M. L. de Win, Wim van den Brink et al.
85 citations
Heavy ecstasy (MDMA) use may cause injury to the brain's serotonin system. Neuroimaging techniques like SPECT, PET, and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy have been used to study this potential neurotoxicity in living humans. The few available studies suggest that heavy users risk reductions in serotonin transporter (SERT) densities in subcortical and possibly cortical brain regions, a marker of serotonin neurotoxicity. These reductions appear dose-dependent and transient, with females possibly more vulnerable than males. Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy seems less sensitive for detecting ecstasy's neurotoxic effects. Whether lower exposure also leads to SERT loss remains unknown. Most studies are retrospective, providing indirect evidence, so longitudinal studies are needed for definitive conclusions.
Human Psychopharmacology Clinical and Experimental
December 1, 2001
Liesbeth Reneman, Jan Booij, Charles B.l.m. Majoie et al.
50 citations
Human users of MDMA (Ecstasy) may be at risk of developing MDMA-induced neuronal injury. Previously, no methods were available for directly evaluating neurotoxic effects in the living human brain, but the development of in vivo neuroimaging tools has begun to provide insights. This review highlights contributions of brain imaging studies on the potential neurotoxic effects of MDMA and functional consequences. An overview of PET, SPECT, and MR spectroscopy studies shows evidence of neuronal injury in MDMA users. Different neuroimaging tools have investigated potential functional consequences of MDMA-induced 5-HT neurotoxic lesions. Brain imaging will play a crucial role in understanding MDMA's short- and long-term effects in the human brain.
Synapse
September 5, 2002
Liesbeth Reneman, Jan Booij, Jan B. A. Habraken et al.
33 citations
SPECT imaging with [123I]β-CIT can detect reductions in serotonin transporter density caused by MDMA neurotoxicity. A rhesus monkey treated with MDMA showed a 39% decrease in SERT binding in the hypothalamic/midbrain region 31 days after treatment, matching autoradiography data (−34%). Rat studies confirmed significant binding reductions in SERT-rich regions one week after neurotoxic MDMA doses. The findings validate [123I]β-CIT SPECT as a method for measuring MDMA-induced serotonergic damage in the brain.
Journal of cerebral blood flow and metabolism : official journal of the International Society of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism
April 1, 2026
Daphne E Boucherie, Liesbeth Reneman, Jan Booij et al.
A new method combining two brain imaging techniques—pharmacological MRI and pharmacological MRS—was tested in 32 healthy adults given S-ketamine or placebo. S-ketamine caused strong blood-flow changes in frontal, cingulate, and insular brain regions, which matched patterns of glutamate and opioid receptors and correlated with participants' reports of dissociation. These blood-flow changes occurred alongside increases in brain glutamate and lactate, especially at higher doses. Combining both imaging methods improved the ability to predict whether a person had received placebo, a low dose, or a high dose of S-ketamine. The findings show that simultaneously measuring blood flow and brain chemistry provides complementary insights into how drugs affect the brain.